Introduction: The Pace We Default To

I write these posts to encourage others…

…but if I’m honest, I often end up writing exactly what I need to hear myself.

This is one of those weeks.

Because my default setting is simple:

Go.

There are always things to do.
Things to fix.
Things to build.
Things to accomplish.

And if I’m not careful, I can convince myself that constant movement equals faithfulness.

But Scripture—and the life of Jesus—tells a different story.

---

Jesus Knew Exhaustion

When we think about Jesus, it’s easy to picture calm, composed moments.

But the Gospels show us something very real:

Jesus got tired.

After a long stretch of teaching and ministering, He got into a boat with His disciples—and fell asleep.

Not lightly resting.

Not just closing His eyes.

Sleeping so deeply that even a violent storm didn’t wake Him.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
Mark 4:37–38 (NIV)

The disciples were panicking.

The storm was real.

The danger was real.

And Jesus…

was resting. Sleeping soundly.

---

More Than Physical Rest

That moment wasn’t just about physical exhaustion.

It revealed something deeper.

Jesus wasn’t just tired.

He was at rest.

At peace.

Anchored.

He wasn’t driven by urgency the way we often are.

He moved with purpose—but also with trust.

---

Jesus Modeled a Rhythm We Struggle to Follow

Throughout His ministry, Jesus worked hard.

He taught crowds.
He healed the sick.
He poured Himself out for people constantly.

But He also did something we often skip:

He stepped away.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Luke 5:16 (NIV)

Not once.
Not occasionally.

Often.

He made space.

He paused.

He rested—not just physically, but spiritually.

---

The Invitation We Tend to Ignore

And then He turned to us and said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Not:

Come to me and I’ll give you more to do.

Not:

Come to me and I’ll make you more productive.

I will give you rest.

---

Why This Is Hard for Me/Us

If I’m honest, this is where I struggle.

Because resting feels… unproductive.

There’s always more I could be doing.

More I should be doing.

And in a culture that rewards busyness, rest can feel like falling behind.

But maybe that’s exactly the problem.

---

The Difference Between Stopping and Resting

Stopping is easy.

We all stop eventually.

But resting in the Spirit—the Spirit of God living within us—is something different.

It’s not just taking a break.

It’s leaning into the Holy Spirit within us.

It’s trusting that:

• The world doesn’t depend on me
• My worth isn’t tied to my output
• God is still working… even when I’m not

---

What Resting in the Spirit Looks Like

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes it looks like:

• Pausing in the middle of a busy day
• Taking a quiet walk without an agenda
• Sitting with Scripture without rushing
• Praying without trying to “get it right”

Sometimes it looks like simply saying:

“God, I trust You to carry what I can’t.”

---

A Better Way to Live

Jesus didn’t just model rest.

He lived from it.

Even in the middle of chaos, He remained grounded.

Even in the middle of demands, He remained connected.

Even in the middle of storms…

He slept.

Rest isn’t about escaping the storm.
It’s about who you trust in the middle of it.

---

A Personal Reminder

This week, I need this reminder.

To pause.
To breathe.
To stop striving.

Not because there isn’t more to do…

but because I’m not meant to carry it all.

And neither are you.

---

A Final Encouragement

If you’ve been running hard…

If your mind feels crowded…

If your soul feels tired…

Maybe the most faithful thing you can do right now isn’t to push harder.

It’s to pause.

To rest.

To come back to the One who offered:

“I will give you rest.”

Not someday.

Not when everything is finished.

Now.

The same Spirit who sustained Jesus… is present with you and me right now.

---

A Question to Sit With

Where in my life am I being invited to stop striving…

and start resting in the Spirit?